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The $200,000 Group Two Silver Shadow Stakes (1100m) looked a race in three on paper and that’s the way it played out with Formality holding off Alizee in a thriller with Champagne Cuddles close up in third.

With the wind whipping up behind the runners in the straight, Formality dashed home her last 600m in 33 seconds flat and stopped the clock at a very slick 1:08.83.

Formality kept finding to beat Alizee

“Her runs here last year were on heavy tracks and now she is back on top of the ground it was good to see her getting her nose in front,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes.

“She has always been a big strong filly but she has just matured. She is such a great eater.

“The main plan at the moment is the Golden Rose. She’ll run again in three weeks’ time (in the $175,000 G2 Furious Stakes).”

When it comes to ranking the stable’s crop of new season three-year-olds which includes Catchy and Tulip, Hayes was happy to sit on the fence.

“It’s really hard to choose. They have all raced at the highest level,” Hayes responded.

“We are planning to run Tulip here next week. We have managed to separate them so far but eventually they will have to clash.”

Kerrin McEvoy said upon dismounting that he wasn’t sure if the daughter of Fastnet Rock would stretch out to the 1400m of the Golden Rose given how brilliant she is.

“It’s debatable how far she would get. She’s quick but it’s an option for them,” McEvoy said.

McEvoy then added “(Alizee) got within a nose but I always felt I was holding a margin. That second filly is no slouch. My filly performed at a high level as a two-year-old and it’s good to see them come back winning.”